More than 100 freshmen officially became part of the Libertas Academy at Americas High School during a special pinning ceremony on Aug. 25, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in their high school journey and future careers in law, government, or public service.
The 11th annual ceremony welcomed one of the largest incoming classes in the academy's history, with 109 freshmen and their families celebrating their induction into the program. Libertas Academy is the only program of its kind in El Paso and one of just four in Texas.
During the ceremony, students received pins commemorating their first step into the advanced academy and their commitment to academic excellence. As members of the academy, they will explore careers in law, government and public service while building the skills and knowledge needed for college and future careers.
“I feel excited for the pinning ceremony tonight,” Londyn Portillo said. “It's really memorable for us because it's our first year in high school and our first year in the program.”
Students in Libertas Academy are challenged through rigorous, college-level coursework and have opportunities to earn college credit through dual-credit and Advanced Placement classes. The program also helps scholars develop leadership, critical thinking and public speaking skills while preparing them to be more competitive for college admissions, scholarships and future careers. Students are selected through a lottery process.
“They are in their first year of legal studies, whether they want to be a judge, a lawyer, a public defender, whether they want to go into politics, if they want to be state representatives, if they want to be congressmen and women themselves, this is the program for them,” said Amanda Zubiate Stevens, the Libertas Academy coordinator. “So, we're just very excited to have them become part of this community, this legal law, and government and public administration community.”
In her keynote address, El Paso County Attorney Christina Sanchez said the Libertas Academy is a shining example of what it means to prepare students, not just for college, but for citizenship.
“This academy will teach the students to connect the head, your knowledge, your heart, ethics, and the hand into action. In that integration lies the power to transform communities and our society,” Sanchez said.
Ameerah Jackson, who enrolled at Americas High School to join the Libertas program, said the pinning ceremony was the first step in her journey to become a trial lawyer someday.
“I joined because I feel like it just gives me an opportunity to learn more about law, especially because that's something I want to do when I grow up,” Jackson said.
Nailah Diaz said she felt both nervous and excited about the event. She chose her mother to pin her during the ceremony. She’s confident that with her mom’s support she’ll be able to get through the rigorous program and achieve her dream of becoming a prosecutor.
“I chose my mom because every day she reminds me of how proud she is. And even if I mess up or do anything, she's always there for me. She's like my only person I can count on that much,” Diaz said.